Noda promises that ‘Japan will rebuild’

NEW YORK (majirox news) — Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told the United Nations General Assembly Sept. 23 that the country’s prime priority were initiatives to rebuild Japan following the March 11 disasters.

Noda also pledged to try and get the Japanese economy back in shape and growing.

“We cannot allow initiatives aimed at the growth of international society stand to be obstructed by economic or financial insecurity,” Noda said.

Noda told the world body Japan would achieve a cold shutdown of the radiation-spewing Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant within this year. Noda promised that Japan would be transparent with the results of all inspections at the Fukushima plant and contribute to international society in a variety of ways to heighten safety standards in nuclear power generation.

Noda said economic growth depended on shifting toward becoming a low-carbon society and creating a green economy. To do this, Japan will aim for technological developments in renewable energies and alternatives to fossil fuels, he said.

“We are aiming for a bold energy shift,” Noda said, referring to the government’s plan to produce a new energy strategy by summer next year.

Noda also promised to provide humanitarian aid for South Sudan and the Horn of Africa and to support democratization in Tunisia and Egypt.

The prime minister also urged North Korea to take active steps to solve problems related to its nuclear weapon development, which he called “a threat to international society.”